COVID-19: How Should Businesses and Individuals Protect Data During Lockdown?

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to take its toll across the world, in more ways than one. In the UK, the virus has stretched our incredible NHS to the limits and has devastated thousands of families through the loss of loved ones, the loss of jobs, and the loss of income. There have also been unprecedented economic impacts. Many businesses have entered administration, from small businesses to retail giants such as Carphone Warehouse, Flybe and Laura Ashley. But, as some businesses close their doors permanently and others encourage employees to work from home, could there be even further risks? With confidential waste bins in many essential business premises overflowing, and confidential information potentially being taken home by employees, how does sensitive data fare in the face of COVID-19?

Trying financial times can lead to an increase in crimes such as theft and fraud. With office buildings empty and vulnerable, how can businesses protect confidential information left on-site? Firstly, any paperwork should be locked away and kept as secure as possible, not visible from the outside of the building. Confidential waste should also be stored in locked waste containers to keep them safe.

The problem doesn’t end with empty offices either. All businesses and individuals have documents containing personal or sensitive information which should be kept secure and, when no longer required, disposed of safely. With many of us in the UK now working from home, it’s more crucial than ever to ensure sensitive data is being handled with care.

Sensitive information should not be left in regular recycling or general waste bins. To do so could be exposing individuals and businesses to fraud. If you or your business needs to dispose of private or confidential information securely, do so in a timely manner using a fully accredited data destruction provider

Waste management companies are considered an essential service and Shred Station is continuing to operate during the pandemic. We manage shredding services for healthcare providers, care homes, supermarkets and many essential services, taking appropriate measures within the government guidance for COVID-19.

A representative from Shred Station comments “A lot of other shredding companies have closed doors, so we’re receiving a lot of calls from people and businesses in urgent need of shredding services. We are still able to offer shredding services to businesses and individuals who need them, operating with strict health and safety measures in place to protect both our staff and our customers”.

Shred Station continues “It’s still a legal obligation to dispose of secure information safely, and necessary to maintain the reputation of businesses by keeping personal data safe. We have had a lot of calls from businesses who have staff working from home, asking us to collect from individual employees. That’s something we’ve been able to offer too, shredding collections from remote workers. It’s great to see that even in these trying times, businesses are still taking the data of their customers and employees incredibly seriously”.

Shred Station, the UK’s largest independent shredding company, is fully accredited to ISO 9001 standards, incorporating EN15713. This is one of the highest accreditations a data destruction company can have. This means that, when your data is collected by Shred Station, you can be assured that your data is in the safest hands available. Shred Station’s team of security vetted operatives are working hard to collect confidential waste from everyone who needs it, including companies across the nation as well as remote employees and private individuals. With lockdown measures and social distancing in place, Shred Station are responding successfully to the government’s guidance around COVID-19. Shredding operatives have been able to continue collections, servicing hospitals, care homes, and many more, under strict safety controls.

-ENDS-

To request more information about anything cited in this article, please contact Emily Bridges on 0800 035 3395, or email emily@shredstation.co.uk.